Next Level For CNA: Nursing Assistant 2

While considering the career ladder of a certified nursing assistant, a CNA or a CNA-1 is the first step of this ladder. However, with increase in experience and with additional trainings, you can obtain higher designations of a certified nursing assistant too. The next level after a CNA is CNA-2 also referred to as a patient care assistant (PCA) in some states.

What is the difference between a CNA 1 and a CNA 2?

If both are called as nursing assistants, then what is the difference between the two? This might be a question that comes to your mind. The difference lies in the qualification, experience and their work profile. A PCA can perform all the duties of a certified nursing assistant, but a certified nursing assistant cannot perform all the duties of a PCA.

A nursing aide - 1 performs duties such as taking care of the patient's health, providing them with food and medicines at regular intervals, conducting tests such as checking the pulse rate, temperature of the body and the blood pressure level , maintaining health records of the patient and informing the doctor about the medical condition of the patients.

In case of a nurse aide-2, apart from performing all the above functions, they obtain specialization in certain specific areas that includes aid in restorative care, dementia care, short-stay facilities. They can also work with the occupational therapy and the physical therapy staffs.

How to Become a Certified Nursing Assistant-2?

Those who have completed the first level training of certified nursing assistant can pursue the course for the second level from accredited CNA 2 classes. However, some states accept candidates who possess a minimum of one year of work experience as a nursing aide in a health care organization before opting for the second level of training.

The duration of the training differs from one state to the other. The entire training is divided into classroom instruction, nursing lab course and direct patient care. Each session is scheduled for a said number of hours by every state. During the training, you will be taught about the following things:

Oral suctioning

Monitoring the blood glucose level

Administering the level of oxygen through nasal cannula

Skin and wound care

Aiding with sterile methods

Measuring and documenting the pressure ulcers

Intermittent and continuous internal tube feeding

After completing the training, you will have to give the competency examination of the state. On clearing the examination, you will obtain the certification and your name will be registered in the State Board of Nursing Registry. Completion of this course will make you capable of performing some advanced nursing assistant activities. After completing the training, you will have to give the competency examination of the state. On clearing the examination, you will obtain the certification and your name will be registered in the State Board of Nursing Registry. Completion of this course will make you capable of performing some advanced nursing assistant activities.

What is the Job Description of CNA 2?

The job profile of nursing aide-2 will vary depending on the locations they work at.

Nursing Homes: Those who work in nursing homes take care of the routine of infirm and elderly patients. They pay acute attention to changes in the health, vital signs of weakness and deterioration found in elderly residents. They also possess empathy and understand the needs of the infirm residents, as there are chances that they may suffer from any kind of mental illness.

Hospitals: Nursing aides-2 working in hospitals report to physicians and nursing staffs. They check the vital signs of the patient to avoid medical complications. Any medical complications found are immediately reported to the physician. They assist the patients in commutating and transportation.

Dementia Care: The training program will teach them how to take care of patients who suffer from mental illnesses. Thus, they provide empathy and emotional support to such victims. Nursing aides working in dementia care also get an opportunity to work with specialists such as psychiatrists and speech therapists.

Private Residences: It is a not always a medical health organization where a nursing aide works, they may also have to take care of the patients in their home. Those working in private residences should be more skillful, as there will be no physician or a Registered Nurse (RN) to assist them and should be capable enough to handle any emergencies that may rise at the patients residence. They should possess the skills to conduct cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Rehabilitation Centers: They help the people to recover and get rid of their alcoholic or drug addiction. They administer medication and provide physiotherapy session to some extent. They help them to make their lifestyles completely a healthy one.

What is the Salary of CNA-2?

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics state that on an average the nursing assistant- 2 earns around USD 28,000 per year. The salary paid on an hourly basis ranges from USD 11 to USD 15 per hour. Their salary also depends on the place of work. For example, those working in hospitals will be paid more than the ones working in nursing homes.

Accomplishment of a training of a CNA-2 will provide you designations as a Technical Nurse Assistant, Treatment Nurse and Advanced CNA Care Provider. By progressing up the career ladder, you will learn many things in the medical field and obtain a secured and a remarkable job.